Hunting Predators with the W1000 Thermal Weapon Sight by ModArmory

It’s cold, scary cold, the thermometer on the porch reads -15 F and a light wind blows from the northwest adding additional discomfort to the already frigid temps. The moonless night completely obliterates any and all light, making navigation into the woods impossible were it not for the illumination of my headlamp. My first tentative steps off the porch compress a snow the consistency of Styrofoam and the squeaking noise sends shivers down my spine. My planned 5-hour sit promises to be long and uncomfortable, despite my best preparations.

I begin walking through the frigid night and 10 minutes later arrive at the bait site. The ground is littered with coyote tracks and the road killed deer carcass has been completely dug out of the snow and ice. I quickly and quietly open to the door to the hunting shack and slip inside. The shack is very basic and contains little insulation beyond its quarter inch thick plywood walls and ceiling. The shack’s one small luxury, a well-padded lounge chair, designed to offer ones posterior comfort through the long, cold dark night. While the shack contains a small propane heater, I dare not start up its welcoming heat lest the smell of propane frighten away my targeted prey. I check my wristwatch and it reads 1:00 AM. I place my R15 into the gun rest and slowly slide the barrel out the window. A parachord loop hangs from the ceiling, suspending the gun in midair and allowing for hands free operation. Such a set-up is necessary when a long sit is expected and your intended query could only potentially present a shot opportunity measured in seconds.

I turn on the W1000 thermal weapon sight and peer into the cool green glow of its eyepiece. Using infrared technology, the W1000 senses differences in heat emitted by objects within it’s field of view, making where there was once only darkness, alive with depth and color. Trees, rocks and the ground appear painted in various shades of green and the 100 yards of darkness to the bait site is as “tactically” visible as if under the midday sun. Unlike night vision technology, the W1000 continues to function after sunrise, operating as effectively during daylight as nighttime. Using IR technology, the W1000 senses heat and not light and therefore will not “bloom” or fail to function when hit by direct sunlight. The unit’s standardized NTSC video output allows the device to easily connect to a digital recording unit, making it extremely simple to record your hunts. The small view screen on the video unit (sold separately) also makes it extremely easy to sit back and watch the monitor rather than continually sit forward to stare into the eyepiece, a great benefit on a long, cold sit. Settling in to my chair, I set the W1000 crosshairs on the bait site and quietly close the blinds heavy curtains in a desperate attempt to seal out the bone chilling cold. With the gun in position, a simple movement of my finger is all that is required to gently move the firearm and W1000 back and forth to effectively scan the bait site and immediate surroundings. Despite the hostile weather conditions, after 6-8 hours on a sit the battery on the W1000 still reads over 50 percent charge. In other words, I am always ready to call it quits way before the W1000.

Of course as amazing it is to see in complete darkness, the real excitement occurs when a predator walks into the video frame. The W1000 separates “living” animals from the green hues of the background imagery by “coloring” them white or black. This is an obvious and very distinctive contrast from the green rocks, ground and trees. This creates a lot of WOW factor when after hours of hunting that first predator stumbles into the bait site. I was blown away just being able to watch small rodents and roosting birds at over 80 yards down range! The W1000 allow you to select from multiple targeting sights and choose white or black as the active coloring of any heat emitting predator unfortunate enough to stumble into your effective range. For hunters, the obvious choice was the standard “+” sight, matched to the “black” color scheme. This allows a high contract between the white colored “+” cross hairs and the black animal, making it easy to ensure proper bullet placement.

The W1000 connects quickly and easily to the picante rail of any AR15 style rifle. A simple lever system attaches to the W1000 to the rail with a vice like grip. Targeting the rifle only requires you to use a hand heater pack taped to a bull’s eye. This small heat source creates a perfect sized shot signature and is all that is needed to create the temperature difference the W1000 needs pick it up on the viewfinder with ease. A few shots and follow-up turns on the W1000’s adjustment nobs and that is all that is required to get into the darkness chasing predators. Hunting with the W1000 is certainly a thrilling experience and I want to extend a special thanks to the fine folks at ModArmory for providing me with the opportunity to test their equipment through Maine’s rigorous winter coyote night hunting season. For the ultimate in high end predator hunting make sure to check out the impressive range of IR and night vision options offered by ModArmory.

Reaper Outdoors - Interview

August 2012, I had the distinct honor of being introduced to the impressive "Reaper Outdoors" team, during their Maine Guided Bear Hunt. The shows host, active duty Navy SEAL Ronald Bellan, also know as "Reaper 01", is a true American hero. Just standing next to this guy is something else and knowing that he could likely kill me with a contact lens ripped from my own eyelid, instantly demands respect. All kidding aside, Ron is a true patriot, highly skilled outdoorsman and one heck of a freaking nice guy. 

I was thrilled when Ron agreed to sit down with me an answer a few questions I had about military based weapons and their integration into civilian sporting uses. The following is an outline of that conversation.

Rabid - Military weapons like the M1 Garand and M16 have a long history of being modified and used by outdoorsmen for hunting and other outdoor sporting pursuits. As a Navy Seal, you have an extensive knowledge of the latest and greatest tactical gear and accessories, what do you see as the next “big” advancement in the evolution of sporting/hunting firearms?

Reaper 01 - I am a firm believer in the basics of weapons for functionality, durability and use. Today we live in a technological world. The future of weapons is leading down the path of technology. There are weapons and optics out there that have a lot of wiz bang gadgets on them, lights, lasers, grips, mounts, just to name a few. As long as they make sense and more importantly, WORK, they are a big asset. The sporting, hunting and military arms race work hand and hand. Each develops weapons for the purpose of killing. Whether it’s an animal or a human, the results are the same, Point of Aim, Point of Impact. I see the M-4 platform becoming an even bigger part of hunting now. Laws are being changed for magazine fed weapons with long range capabilities. Current gun law proposals aside, you see a lot of people hunting with these platforms and many more folks going to the range knocking down targets.

Rabid - What do you think the next generation of gun owners is going to have? 

Reaper 01 - They will have what they are brought up on. There are a few things on the horizon for big changes. Suppressors are now being looked at and even used for hunting to keep the noise down on ranges and in the field. Smart optics is advancement in their infancy. Shooters want to shoot further and more accurate. Not everyone can go to sniper school.

Rabid - How about an optic that pins the target, calculates the distance, and adjusts for wind drift and all you have to do is squeeze the trigger? 

Reaper 01 - It’ coming, in fact it’s here. It cost a butt ton of money but when the price is brought down people will be flocking to the gun stores. Muzzle breaks are becoming more popular and the advancements are taking hold in the hunting and shooter world. The development of deflecting the muzzle blast for better follow through and better accuracy is becoming a norm on weapons. The weapons and optics we currently use in the military will be on the hunting grounds and on the ranges. Light weight stocks, heavy barrels, bolt action, semi auto, night vision, muzzle breaks, lasers, and smart optics all have their place on the hunting grounds. As long as the industry isn’t compromising our protectors (law enforcement, military) and people are using them right, the shooting world is in for some amazing range time ahead. The Reaper Outdoors Team hunts game in some very remote and challenging locales. Because of the stresses on equipment your gear and firearms must be “battle hardened” to withstand the rigors place against them in the field.

Rabid - Do you have a preferred hunting firearm, optics and ammunition that have proven effective in these conditions? 

Reaper 01 - Our equipment has to withstand harsh environmental conditions from deserts, high mountains, and plains, cold and hot. It also has to work in all weather conditions. I currently reach for my trusted .308 Remington Model 700 varmint rifle. The Remington Model 700’s have been proven on the hunting grounds and the battlefield. I had mine modified from a 26” barrel cut down to 20”s and threaded a PWS (Primary Weapons System) muzzle break on the end. The PWS M216 7.62, is a semi automatic weapon I use when the laws allow it for hunting.

Hornady ammo is our store bought ammo of choice. The consistency of the rounds has proven to be spot on. I have had nothing but good tight groups at long range and my cold bore shot, 2nd and 3rd round impacts are always grouped and accurate at long ranges. We use Hornady for all our ammo needs. I use various optics from, scopes to ACOGS. I will tell you which handled the toughest of terrain, weather and dings. On my weapons to list a few, Aimpoint, Trijicon, Night Force, and Bushnell (waterproof scopes).

Rabid - Most modern military firearms are based on the 9mm, .308 and .223 calibers what is your preferred caliber for hunting large game (Moose, Deer, Bear, Etc) and for hunting small game (Coyotes, Bobcats, Mt. Lion)? 

Reaper 01 - I like having an all around caliber that will take down most big game animals. This is why I choose the .308. It has a wide range of ballistics that allow a short or long distance shot that will still maintain the kinetic energy to make a clean kill. The .308 round has a wide range of loads, very common accessible bullet and accurate. I also like the 300 win mag for it even further reach and punch.

For varmint and small game, I go right to the battle tested .223 for its accuracy and small caliber punch. Again, a very common and accessible round that doesn’t leave big holes if I want to use the hide. Another round we use is the 22-250. This round is a fast, flat shooter that, allows a load for small game to larger game such as the Whitetail deer. This is actually Reaper 03’s weapon of choice for a lot of hunting.

Rabid - During your adventures afield, do you carry a side arm? Type and caliber? 

Reaper 01 - I do carry a side arm. The pistol I carry depends on the animal I am going after and the state hunting regulations. The main weapon of choice for hunting is my 357 magnum Smith and Wesson 686 revolver. It has great punching power and takes the abuse of living in the wilderness. The other pistol I carry is a Sig P226 9mm. I enjoy having that on my side for protection and the amount of rounds it holds.

Rabid - Military based camouflage is based on a basic digital model of concealment, while civilian camouflage is typically more complicated and centered regional and sporting pursuits. What is your preferred camouflage pattern? 

Reaper 01 - Military camouflage is developed not only for concealment from human eyes, but around an array of counter technology detections. Military camouflage doesn’t always work for hunting animals, mainly because of how it is broken up in straight lines. MultiCam is the preferred Reaper Teams camouflage of choice. It gives a wide range of environmental concealment. We’ve tested it in desert, grasslands, and woodland. The results were amazing on how it blends in and how it beats out the commercial patterns that are on the market today. The technology on how the pattern with the materials is impressive.

Rabid - You recently came to Maine hunting black bear, what did you think of the Maine wilderness? 

Reaper 01 - The Maine wilderness was surreal, wild and beautiful. We canoed into our layup site (base camp), and then our hunting area every day. We experienced the thickness of the woods, bogs and waterways. We also encounter moose, bear, grouse, rabbits, and of course fish. The wilderness is vast, challenging, tranquil, and down right incredible. The environmental challenge for the Team was the survival and navigation front. We were able to utilize a wide range of the terrain and different landscapes and waterways to navigate and survive. Our main food source came from the water with the bounty of fish and vegetation.

Rabid - Was your operation a success and all that you had hoped it would be? When will the Maine episode air and will it be available later on youtube? 

Reaper 01 - Our mission was to infiltrate the Maine wilderness, survive, and hunt down the great Black bear with a bow. We accomplished our mission. We ate fish, lily pad bulbs and wouldn’t you know it, got a nice Black bear with a bow. The experience was all we had hoped it would be and beyond. Our good friend and guide Matt from, Eagle Mountain Guide Service set up the operation and let us do our thing.

The show will air on the Pursuit channel starting April 1st. Direct TV channel 604 and Dish Network channel 240 show times Mondays 1830, Tuesdays 1100 and Saturdays 1230.

 **All shows will be loaded on our website www.reaperoutdoors.com after the show has aired that week. We will also be loading up video’s, gear lists and reviews as the hunts air. Make sure to sign into our Website and become part of REAPER Nation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Reaper 01 Out

AR (Armalite) 15 Hunting Rifle

A friend stopped by my home shooting range during the weekend, allowing me an opportunity to test fire his two AR15s. I had long been interested in the AR15 platform as a sporting firearm and this outing provided me with a boatload of convincing proof. The rifles out of the box accuracy, lightweight, reliability, semiautomatic capabilities and endless list of possible modifications, make it the perfect predator hunting/home defense rifle. If you question my choice, take one to the range and you will quickly come over to my way of thinking.

On the range, with iron sites, I had no problem putting 6 of 10 shots quickly into a pie plate at 100 yards. Adding basic optics, it would become scary accurate at typical ranges (25-100 yds) most encountered in the thick Maine woods. Even when working extended ranges (100-300 yds) found when hunting frozen lakes and power lines, the zippy (2,820 FPS in 70 grain loads) .223 could deliver a terminal payload into the vitals of coyotes, bobcats and fox with ease.

Military grade firearms including the 1903 Springfield (WWI) and M1 Garand (WWII) have a long history of being converted into sporting use and the M16 /AR15 is certainly no exception. A large number of manufacturers produce the AR 15 including DPMS / Panther Arms, Armalite, Colt, Heckler and Koch (HK), Olympic Arms and many, many more. Remington also recently entered the market, making a very attractive AR15 simply called the R15. Right out of the box, it comes with some very nice basic features, making for a very slick rifle. It is available in several different styles, barrel lengths and calibers including .308, .243 and .223 . . . . AND (sit down and brace yourself) it comes in Advantage MAX 1 HD camouflage.

The obvious “classic” choice of AR15 is the .223 round mimicking the military 5.56 mm cartridge. With ammo available through a wide selection of manufacturers, it is both cheap and easy to obtain. Bullet grain weights range from 55 to 75 grains providing plenty of room to fine tune your loads to the game animal you intend to pursue. Fox hunting use the 55-grain load to cut down on hide damage. Want to add a little more knockdown power for coyotes upgrade to the 75-grain. Need better performance? Many ammunition companies offer high-end selections to this popular caliber.

Shooting the .223 is a dream for those used to shooting larger calibers as recoil is practically nominal. The basic ballistics of the .223 make it a formidable predator hunting selection. At 100, 200 and 300 yards bullet drop is 0, -4 and -15 inches. Zeroing in the .223 round at 200 yards would make the “kill zone” much bigger and distance calculations easier. Due to its lightweight, shooting long ranges in windy conditions may require significant windage calculations.

For the survivalist minded crowd, the AR15 is “THE” rifle to own (http://www.shtfblog.com/shtf-blogs-top-ten-best-guns-for-survival/). Available in apocalypse, world ending 30 round clips and zombie horde stomping100 round drums, make it additionally a serious home defense weapon.